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Opportunity to join ARC’s Board of Trustees

ARC Stockton is one of the UK’s leading multi-artform centres, closely connected to its local community with a national reputation for its artistic and audience development work.

ARC’s mission is to work from its building to enhance the wellbeing of the whole community of Stockton and the Tees Valley, through arts and creative activity, through widening opportunities to experience and participate in the arts, and through partnership with other organisations.

Having achieved financial stability, we have ambitious plans for continued growth.

ARC is seeking new Board members to act as charity trustees for the company who share our commitment to the values and aims of ARC.

2016/17 was another successful year for ARC with our activity including:

• 239 professional performances, as well as 88 community-led performances, attracting audiences in excess of 42,500
• More than 540 film screenings and live performances on screen, with audiences of 14,000+
• Employing more than 100 artists to provide 1,200 creative learning opportunities, enjoyed by more than 16,000 children, young people, disabled people, adults and older people
• Providing professional development and training opportunities for more than 200 artists and practitioners
• Producing and touring five small-scale productions, leading to 70 performances in other venues reaching audiences of more than 2,500

In 2016/17, regular funding from Arts Council England and Stockton on Tees Borough Council made up approximately 19% of our income, with the remaining 81% generated through ticket sales, hire fees, catering, project grants and other fundraising activity.
Applications from people interested in the arts with expertise/experience in general business, financial management, running not for profit or commercial organisations, community development, health or those with experience of the issues facing local people will be particularly welcome, as well as individuals with good local networks.

We welcome applications from Black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates who are currently under represented in our organisation. We offer a flexible and supportive environment and aim to ensure everyone in the organisation is aware of our equality and diversity commitments.

Board membership is a voluntary position. The full Board meets quarterly, with an expectation that Board members will attend events at ARC throughout the year.

See below for a full job description and person specification.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining ARC’s Board, please submit

• A letter of no more than 2 pages setting out your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification
• A current CV of no more than 3 pages
• A completed equality monitoring form (NB: this will not be used to assess applications.)

If you would like an informal chat with a current Board member before applying, please contact Lynne Snowball (Chair) on lsnowball09@gmail.com to arrange a convenient time.

Trustee Job Description

Job Purpose

ARC is a company limited by guarantee, and a registered charity. The Board of Trustees act as Directors of the Company, and are responsible for the running of the charity. Day to day responsibility for the organisation is delegated to the Chief Executive & Artistic Director, but the Board play an active role in setting ARC’s strategic direction and in the governance and monitoring of ARC.

• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as an ARC Trustee

• A preparedness to offer personal and business skills and experience to support the work of the staff when required

• Good, independent judgment

• An ability to think creatively and take a strategic view

• An understanding of the need for confidentiality

• The ability to work as a member of a team and a willingness to state personal convictions and, equally, to accept a majority decision and be tolerant of the views of other people

• A commitment to acting as a champion for ARC

NB: The Board can co-opt people who have specific skills to join if necessary. Whatever skills each Trustee brings to the table they will be required to fulfil a full range of duties and responsibilities appropriate to the Board.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Legal, Financial and Fundraising Duties

1.1 To ensure that ARC operates in accordance with Company and Charity Law. This includes the filing of statutory returns at Companies House, returns to the Charity Commission and the keeping of Company Registers.

1.2 To ensure the prudent financial management of ARC. To exercise financial control; to scrutinise quarterly statements of the financial position; to discuss and decide on annual budgets and to review and, if required, revise those budgets to ensure that ARC has adequate resources at all times. To decide on, and assist with, applications to funding bodies if required.

1.3 To ensure ARC keeps proper accounts and that audited accounts are produced annually and submitted to Companies House and funding bodies.

1.4 To ensure the payment of all taxes due to the Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise.

1.5 To appoint bankers and cheque signatories and to make clear decisions about spending powers delegated to staff.

1.6 To ensure that ARC’s assets are safeguarded and are well managed and maintained.

1.7 To ensure that ARC is properly insured.

1.8 To support fundraising activities and events by providing access to networks, industry and personal contacts, and championing applications.

NB: Whilst the Trustees liability is normally limited to £1, Trustees should note that if the Company is not run within the limits of its financial resources, it is possible that they could be held personally liable for ARC's debts and disqualified from being a company director, if they are not seen to have acted prudently. It is therefore essential that Trustees are kept informed of ARC’s financial position so that they can monitor ARC’s ongoing financial situation.

2. Employment and HR Duties

NB: Trustees should note that the Board of Trustees is the employer of the staff.